Shoe tree



M. BISK SHOE TREE April l, 1969 sheet of 2 Filed Feb. 28, 1968 M A X B lS K Cawg,wup,

ATTORNEYS.

April 1, 1969 M. BlsK sHoE TREE Sheet of2 Filed Feb. 28, 1968 INVENTOR.

By MAx, B-l sk @Qua/14m' United States Patent O 3,435,475 SHOE TREE MaxBisk, 1100 Elbridge St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19111 Filed Feb. 28, 1968,Ser. No. 708,978 Int. Cl. A43d 3/14 U.S. Cl. 12 117.4 10 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE In a shoe tree, a hinge integrally formed in the toemember and a heel pivotably secured to said toe member. The hingecomprises a plurality of pairs of posts which depend from the toemember. The posts are aligned transversely along the toe member witheach of the posts of each pair being spaced from each other and facingeach other. One of said posts of each of said pair having a laterallyextending projection which faces the opposite facing post. The heelmember is secured to the toe member between the posts by theprojections.

This invention relates generally to shoe trees and more particularly toa shore tree having an integrally formed hinge in the toe member forpivotably securing and connecting the heel and toe members of the shoetree.

In heretofore existing shoe trees, one of the expensive steps in themanufacture thereof, is the connection of the toe member to the heelmember. The toe member and the heel member must be pivotably secured toeach other yet the pivotable securement therebetween must be strongenough to enable the heel and toe members to be urged against therespective portions of the shoe in a straightened position when the shoetree is maintaining the shape of the shoe.

Conventional shoe trees typically utilize a stiff wire member which isdetachably secured to the heel member and which is pivotably securedbetween the toe member and the heel member. Conventional hinges for thestiff wire member typically comprise U-shaped brackets which requirepermanent fasteners for securing the hinge about the wire member.Securement of such hinges is either very time consuming for the workeror extremely expensive to consummate in an automatic operation.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome theaforementioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shoetree having an integrally formed hinge which enables quick securement ofthe toe member to the heel member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shoetree which is inexpensive to manufacture but which is superior toconventional shoe trees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved shoetree comprised of a material having a deodorizing and fungicide materialmolded therein.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing ashoe tree comp-rising a toe member and a heel member. A hinge isintegrally formed in the toe member for pivotably securing the heelmember to the toe member and comprises a plurality of pairs of postsdepending from the toe member. The posts are aligned transversely alongthe toe member with each of the posts of each pair being spaced fromeach other and facing each other. One of the posts of each of the pairshas a laterally extending projection. The projecting extends towards theopposite facing post so that the heel member is secured to the toemember between the posts by the projections.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this inventionwill be readily appreciated as the same -becomes better understood byreference to the following de- 3,435,475 Patented Apr. 1, 1969 ICStailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shoe tree embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the shoe tree embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan View of the toe member of the shoe treeembodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 4 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5 5in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken along the line 6 6 inFIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view taken below the toe member of thehinge embodying the invention.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingwherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, a shoe treeembodying the invention is shown generally at 20 in FIG. 1.

The shoe tree 20 basically comprises a toe member 22 and a heel member24. The heel member 24 includes a stiff wire member 26 for pivotablysecuring the toe member to the heel member. The stiff wire member 26 issecured to the toe member 22 via a hinge 28 which is -integrally formedin the toe member 22.

Toe member 22 is best seen in FIGS. l an-d 4 and is preferablyvcomprised of a thermoplastic resin and is formed in the shape of thetop surface of the toe of a shoe. The toe member 22 as well as heelmember 24 is molded with a deodorizing and fungicidal material mixed inwith the thermoplastic resin to help maintain an odorfree shoe.

The toe member is predominantly a hollow shell or top wall 32 andincludes an enlarged rib 30 which extends around the periphery of thearcuately formed toe member to stiften the toe member. The top wall 32of the toe member is thus shaped to conform to the top surface of thetoe of a shoe.

A plurality of rectangular openings 34 are formed in the top wall 32 ofthe toe member and, as will hereinafter be seen, enables the formationof the hinge 28 during the molding thereof. The hinge 28 is best seen inFIGS. 6 and 7 and basically comprises a plurality of pairs of posts 36,38 and 40 which are transversely aligned in pairs facing each other.Each of the pairs of posts 36, 38 and 40 depend from the top wall 32 ofthe toe member 22. One post of each of the pairs of posts includes alaterally extending projection 42, 44 and 46 in pairs 36, 38 and 40,respectively.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 7, the projections are triangular in shapehaving their largest projection at the bases thereof which are providedat the position most spaced from the end of the post. The projectionsare thus tapered towards the end thereof.

As best seen in FIG. 6, the projections are provided alternately onopposite sides of the posts. Thus, projections 42 and 46 are provided onthe rear post with respect to the toe facing towards the forward post ofthe respective pairs 36 and 40. Projection 44 is provided on theforwardmost post of pair 38 and faces the rear post of the pair. Byproviding the projections on alternate sides of the posts, the abilityof the projections to retain wire 26 within the posts is increased.

Depending members 48 and 50 are provided from top wall 32 of the toemember between the pairs of posts 36 through 40. The depending members48 and S0 act as shoulders to constrict the movement of the wire member26 within the hinge 28. Additional support is provided to the posts byribs 52 and ribs 54. Ribs 52 are provided adjacent and integral with therear posts of pairs of posts 36, 38 and 40. The ribs 52 are triangularlyshaped, planar and depend vertically from the top wall 32. Ribs 54 arealso triangular, planar, provided integrally with the forward posts ofthe pairs of posts 36, 38 and 40, and depend vertically from top Wall32. The ribs are also formed integrally with the toe member 22.

The heel member 24 is best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and basically comprisesan elongated body member 56, which is comprised of generally U-Shapedcross-section and an enlarged heel portion 58 which is secured tot bodymember 56 and which acts to engage the heel of the shoe when the shoetree is placed in a straightened position.

The body member 56 of heel member 24 includes a plurality of openings 60which are formed in the side walls of the body member and which extendtransversely. Openings 60 are provided on each side of the body member56 and are aligned with each other and act to enable detachablesecurement with the wire member 26 for varying the size of the shoetree. Provided at the forwardmost end of the body member 56 is a pair ofinwardly extending projections 62 which act as beads to snap the wiremember 26 into a straight position when the shoe tree is inserted into ashoe.

On the top surface of the forwardmost end of the body member 56, aU-shaped handle 64 is provided which projects upwardly and which isadapted to enable a finger to be inserted for pulling the shoe tree outof the shoe.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the Wire member 26 is generally U-shaped and hasa transversely extending straight web 68 and a pair of bent legs 70. Thelegs 70 basically comprise a pair of bottom portions 72 which arestraight and which extend transversely to the web portion 68. The legsfurther include an inwardly extending pair of straight portions 74 whichare betn inwardly of integral straight portions 72 and which areintegral with an elongated pair of straight sections 76 which extendparallel to each other substantially along the length of the body member56. Portions 72 and 74 are bent upwardly from straight sections 76 sothat the web portion 68 is elevated to reach the hinge 28 of the toemember.

At the end of each portion 76 of legs 70 is an outwardly extendingportion 78 which extends perpendicular to straight portion 76. The endportions 78 of the legs 70 are insertable in openings 60 along thelength of body member 56 and are pivotably secured therein. T o removethe end portions 78 from openings 60, the legs 70 are squeezed togetherthereby enabling the end portions 78 to be telescoped out of theopenings 60.

To vary the size, the legs 70 are squeezed together and the end portions78 aligned with the desired opening 60 and pressure is then releasedenabling the posts to enter the desired openings. The openings `60 havealigned therewith semicircular channels 80 on the outer face of the sidewalls of the elongated body member 56 and similar semicircular channels82 on the inner wall of the elongated body member. These semicircularchannels facilitate alignment of the end portions 78 with the openings60 to enable quick insertion thereof. The legs are thus squeezedtogether, the end portions 78 are placed in the channels aligned withthe openings 60v and pressure released thereby enabling the channels toguide the end portions into the openings.

To assemble the heel member to the toe member, the Web 68 of the wiremember 26 is aligned between the ends of the pairs of posts 36 through40. As best seen in FIG. 7, the web `68 is moved in the direction ofarrow 84 into the center of the pairs of posts. The tapered projections42, 44 and 46 enable the web 68 to wedge into the posts. The posts arethereby spread slightly so that the web 68 may enter therebetween. Assoon as the web 68 passes the projections 42, 44 and 46 of the pairs ofposts 36 through 40, the posts snap together and the transverselyextending bases of the projections 42, 44 and 46 act as shoulders toprevent removal of the Web 68.

The web 68 of wire member 26 is thereby pivotably connected between theposts, the depending members 48 and 50 and projections 42, 44 and 46which form the hinge 40. The shoe tree is thus assembled and ready foruse in a shoe tree.

The shoe tree 20 is insertable in conventional fashion into a shoe. Theheel member 24 and toe member 22 are bent with respect to each other.The body member S6 is pivoted to an angle with respect to the elongatedportions 76 of legs 70 of the wire member. The toe member 22 and theheel 58 of heel member 24 are iirst inserted into the shoe. The handle64 is pressed downwardly and the heel 58 and toe member 22 are urgedagainst the respective portions of the shoe.

When the wire member 26 is substantially parallel to the body member 56of the heel member 24. The legs 70 of the Wire member coact withprojections 62 to snap and maintain the shoe tree 20 in the straightposition.

The shoe tree 20 is removed from the shoe by pulling handle 64. The heelmember 24 pivots about the ends 78 of wire member 26 and the shoe treeslips easily out of the shoe.

It can therefore be seen that a new and improved shoe tree has beenprovided. The shoe tree is easily made and comprises only three pieces.The toe member 22 is so constructed that it is formed in a singlemolding operation and thereby obviates the requirement for furtherassembling operations to add hinges to receive the wire member 26. Theheel member 24 is also formed in a single operation and includes anintegral handle 64. The openings 60 are also formed during the holdingof the handle. The associated channels and 82 enable the formation ofopening 60 and facilitate alignment of the end portions 78 of the wiremember 26 with opening 60 prior to insertion thereof. The channelsfurther act as journals to maintain end portions 78 in a transverselyextending disposition.

The formation of the hinge in the integral manufacture of the toe member22 obviates further operations on the toe member 22. Thus, a simpleoperation of pressing the web 68 of the wire member 26 into the hinge 28is all that is required to assemble the shoe tree. Moreover, only oneheel member is required for a plurality of shapes of toe members. Sincetoe members vary in width in accordance with the size of the shoe used,the toe member may be snapped into various sizes of toe members 22 whichare provided with the integrally formed hinge 28. The openings 34 enablethe formation of the projections on the inner portions of the posts. Theuse of a thermoplastic resin to construct the toe member 22 enablesirnpregnation therein of an odor, fungus and germ killing material.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In a shoe tree comprising a toe member and a heel member, a hinge,for pivotably securing said heel member to said toe member, said hingebeing integrally formed in said toe member and comprising a plurality ofpairs of posts depending from said toe member, said posts being alignedtransversely along said toe member with each of said posts of each pairbeing spaced from each other and facing each other, one of said posts ofeach of said pair having a laterally extending projection, saidprojections extending toward said opposite facing post so that said heelmember is secured to said toe member between said posts and projections.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein only one of said posts of said pairsof posts includes a laterally extending projection, said projectionsbeing on alternate ones of said aligned pairs of posts.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said heel member includes apivotably secured wire member, said wire member including a transverselyextending end piece for secnrement within said hinge of said toe, saidheel member being secured to said toe member by snapping saidtransversely extending section of said Wire member into said hinge.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said heel member includes a pair ofside walls having a longitudinally extending row of openings on eachWall, said wire member including transversely extending end members forinsertion into said openings for varying the size of said shoe tree.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said heel member includes aplurality of transversely extending channels aligned with openings inthe walls of said heel member, said channels enabling alignment of saidwire member for inserting said wire member into said heel member.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein three pairs of said posts areprovided, the end pairs of said posts having the projections on saidposts on one side, the central pair of posts having a projection on thepost on the other side.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said projections taper towards theends of said posts so that said shoe tree is easily assembled.

8. The invention `of claim 7, wherein said projections include flatbases which extend transversely to said posts to prevent loosening ofthe connection between said toe member and said heel member.

9. The invention of claim 8 wherein said toe member further includesvertically depending ribs which are secured integrally with said poststo provide additional support therefor.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said toe member is comprised of athermoplastic resin having a deodorizing and fungus killing materialimpregnated therein.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS PATRICK D. LAWSON, PrimaryExaminer.

